Mark and Julie Chesney in their military uniforms in 1997 and at a football game in 2021.
Veterans face challenges most civilians don’t understand, and these can make their health care needs complex, especially if providers aren’t aware they’re treating a veteran.
November 6, 2024
From serving in combat to deployments around the world and working in high-pressure environments stateside, “Military personnel experience significant stress on their mental health,” said Navy veteran Mark Chesney, practice manager at Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), he is one of the 11% to 20% of veterans who have this condition, compared to approximately 4% of the general population, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Mark and his wife, Julie, also a veteran and Penn State Health employee, believe health care providers can do more to serve veterans and their families by immediately identifying patients who served or are currently serving in the armed services.
The couple met early in their military careers and married in 1996. Mark served in the Navy for more than 25 years, retiring in 2020 as a senior chief hospital corpsman. Julie served as a hospital corpsman for three years at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and is now a medical office associate with Penn State Health Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Understanding veterans’ unique needs
“Because of our experiences in the military, we deal with certain challenges that health care providers may not expect or even understand,” Mark said. Although electronic medical records and intake forms include veteran status, the couple advocates for health systems to actively collect more detailed information about a patient’s military experience.
“Veterans need to be open about their military backgrounds when they see a doctor,” he said. “We need to make our health care providers aware of any challenges we’ve faced and what impact they might have on our care.”
Mark was an independent duty corpsman the last 15 years of his career. He completed nine deployments on ships and with Marine Corps units in more than 20 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Far East Asia.
His final deployment took him to the jungles of southern Laos, where his unit searched for the remains of two missing Vietnam War fighter pilots, locating one. “It was a very humbling experience to travel overseas looking for a lost brother or sister who never made it home,” he said.
Opening up about mental health
Mental health concerns are the third-most frequently diagnosed category of health conditions among veterans, according to the National Institutes of Health’s Library of Medicine.
“There’s definitely a stigma around seeking help for mental health,” Mark said. “PTSD, for example, is challenging because service members may not want to talk about what they experienced for many reasons.” And some may believe that having mental health concerns shows weakness, he added.
“I’ve had friends and former service members commit suicide because they were battling their mental health problems and didn’t know who to turn to or were too afraid to seek help.” It’s vital that military personnel understand that mental health concerns are not a weakness and reach out for help, either from the Veterans Administration system or civilian health systems such as Penn State Health, he noted.
Fulfilling, meaningful careers
Beyond health care, Penn State Health makes a difference in veterans’ lives through another route: employment.
“One of the best ways to support veterans is to connect them with fulfilling and meaningful careers,” said George Altman, managing director of VETS Indexes, an organization focused on veteran employment. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that between half to three-fourths of veterans experience some level of stress when transitioning from military to civilian employment.
In recognition of its commitment to hiring, retaining and supporting veterans, Penn State Health was named a 2023 and 2024 VETS Indexes Recognized Employer. “Penn State Health has proven to be a welcoming home for veterans and military spouses who want to start the next phase of their lives,” Altman said.
Mark Chesney echoes that opinion.
“After I retired from the Navy, I accepted a position with Penn State Health as a practice site manager. I had a very hard time finding my place because all I had known for 25 years was how the military operates. Many veterans have this problem when they separate. It can be difficult to fit in with those who never served, and many even jump from job to job before they find one that suits them,” he said.
Mark believes Penn State Health takes great care of its employees. “I’ve made a lot of connections and feel like this is a big family,” he said. In fact, the couple’s daughter recently joined the health system as a graduate nurse at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
Health care support and beyond
“Those who have served in the military bring unique attributes and skills to our organization that mirror our values of respect, integrity, teamwork and excellence. In addition, veterans tend to have advanced educational experiences,” said Lynette Chappell Williams, vice president and chief diversity officer.
To better serve veterans and military personnel, Penn State Health participates in the Tricare uniformed services health care program, which connects Military Health System resources with civilian health care providers.
“I’m proud of Penn State Health’s participation in the Tricare Health Maintenance Organization because of its positive impact on our lives,” Julie Chesney said. Those benefits include favorable monthly payments, deductibles and health plan options.
Additional military-focused activities at Penn State Health include a Military and Veteran Business Employee Resource Group, which advocates for the rights and needs of employees and patients in the military or veterans of the armed forces. Penn State Health also participates in National Wreaths Across America Day and provides training to employees on how to better support military personnel and their families during and after their service.
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